Normandy-Bridge
Cameron braced his knees as the Normandy transitioned out of its mass effect tunnel into normal space at more normal velocities, her engines cut in propelling the Normandy forward again heading for the planet ahead of them.
An explosion flashed above the cockpit canopy as they drifted past, Cameron glanced up to see an Alliance Heavy Cruiser take two hits from projectiles, and vomit a return volley into the stars.
"Status?" He asked turning to Joker.
"It's a real shit storm out there, erm…Commander. We have Turian, Alliance, Geth, and Quarian forces all around us trying to kill one another. It's gonna be hard to plot a course through the debris field, even with the stealth drive."
Cameron nodded slightly glancing over the displays around Joker's console. The blips on the screen chased each other, one was yellow showing friendly forces, the Normandy was blue, and the enemy was red. The fleets were engaging in ever closer examples of gun play, and there was no sign they had been detected yet as there was no sign of pursuit and none of the ships were peeling off for their direction.
"Are you going to get ready?" Cameron heard Ashley speak from behind him.
"Yeah, just wanted to see us come out of FTL and set a course for Rannoch. Joker, ETA?" He turned back to the pilot.
"Give us about seven minutes before we are in a comfortable position to release the Kodiak. And then say a quick prayer that none of the fighters detect you on the way down." Joker chuckled.
"Right," Cameron turned around and headed for the cargo bay.
Kodiak Cargo compartment
The Kodiak drifted over the surface of Rannoch, undetected, making only the slightest noise as they maneuvered down the plains and up a mountain range looking for any signal.
What the hell are we doing? Cameron sighed. "Cortez, got anything yet?"
"Nothing, but maybe the Quarians don't know we're here, we didn't exactly advertise our presence, and if they sent a signal without knowing we were on sight that could expose the Admiralty board to further danger."
Cameron nodded, right, how silly, he toggled his omni-tool and sent a burst transmission over an open signal; it was not enough to let anyone know where they were just that they were here. Both friend and foe alike.
"Commander, we have gotten a response, Quarian emergency signal about two hundred kilometers from here in what looks like an old Quarian communications station, I am also detecting signs of enemy forces in the region."
"Then take us there, quickly." Cameron admonished.
After two minutes they were floating over a platform attached to a walkway leading towards a facility with a com sat on the top of it facing the stars. Cameron assumed that was their final destination as he, Miranda, and Garrus leapt off the hovering Kodiak onto the pathway.
He deployed the Revenant into his hand and scanned the area quickly, Garrus got his Phaeston out, and Miranda let the pistol at her side stay in its holster.
Cameron led them to the base of the facility and entered it, weapon drawn out in front of him, aiming down it, as he checked his corners, Miranda and Garrus following him in very closely. Got the A team back together again. Cameron grunted the thought smiling at being reunited with Garrus and Miranda again, whatever the universe he knew he was well looked after.
No one was here, at least not yet, so they proceeded deeper into the facility, and into a central room filled with modern computer equipment streamlined. And a few Quarians standing in the room over a central table, one of them quickly snapped his assault rifle up and pointed them at the crew.
"No!" Admiral Shala'Raan held up her hand, "I recognize some of the people here…you must be from the Normandy."
Cameron nodded.
"And you are?" Shala'Raan vas Rannoch state.
"Cameron…" he sighed, Abby is right, no need to confuse them, "I am just Cameron, former Commander, Alliance Navy."
"I see," Shaala caught her up short and turned to Garrus.
"He is with us Admiral; we are here to evacuate you to the Normandy." Garrus assured her.
She nodded, "We'll see, but the enemy forces continue to break through our lines and we here reports of ground forces in the region, fighting has spread through several of our new settlements. The Alliance is using advanced mechs, hunting for us."
"Hunting for you? Why?" Miranda asked.
"Without the Quarian Admiralty Board our Government would collapse. They, curiously, do not have the forces to force a capitulation on the part of our planet; they are hoping to distract us." A new Quarian spoke out.
"She is the replacement for Admiral Zorah." Shala'Raan pointed out.
"I see." Cameron nodded, "so this is little more than a delaying action?" Cameron asked.
"This is what our technology indicates."
"I see." Cameron stated.
After a second Miranda muttered out, "Come on, we need to head out of here before the forces intercept us."
"Lead on," Cameron stated as the two guards took the lead, Cameron and his squad brought up the rear, followed by the Admirals.
They fanned out onto the platform and looked down the range.
"Cameron, is the Normandy really in orbit? We need to get-"
One of her guards held up his hand in a fist, "Hold on."
"What is it?" Cameorn said after waiting for a second.
"That!" The guard pointed out down towards the end of the compound.
Cameron spun towards the disturbance as he spun back when the guard got hit; he reached for the Revenant making sure to deploy it as the two groups charged. Miranda bent down to behind him checking the man's pulse, he was clearly dead, the other guard took a similar hit, as Garrus rushed forward.
"Whoever you are! You are surrounded, surrender the Admiralty Board and you will be given safe passage!" Amanda's voice pierced down the platform.
"Do you honestly expect us to believe that?" Cameron growled.
"I fail to see what choice you have."
Cameron glanced at Garrus as they both nodded imperceptibly, "This!" He ran forward strafing right to the cover as his Revenant began blazing in a long stream of firepower into the huddled mass of forces. Garrus snapped off a few bursts from the Indra as he leaned behind an over turned plate.
Miranda unleashed an overload blast vainly into the air.
Amanda and the squad proceeded to fire back at them but since two of them were armed with shot guns it was a little hard for them to hit the Normandy team. Cameron looked up over the range and saw the unidentified squad mate in the report, and then Corbullo was the principle opponent engaging them with long range rifle fire.
Cameron popped up and peppered the Turian's position with his rifle fire from the Revenant pinning him down. Thus giving the chance for the Qurian Admiralty to escape and find cover of their. Shepard smiled slightly before firing the rest of his thermal clip down into the range.
Garrus too added the Indra to the mix hoping to give them just enough cover and just enough range to let Miranda move up. It was a risky proposition since both sides had excellent cover. The Phoenix operative managed it though as she began deftly moving from what little cover there was to the next one, but Amanda and the other operative began to fire back at her with precise pistol fire finally pinning her down, and Amanda was beginning to move into a better position.
Amanda leapt over the barricade and Cameron saw his chance. Miranda and he charged forward in a wave of blue biotic energy, each of them slamming into Miranda as one, knocking into her full bore.
She rolled to the side and tried sweeping Miranda's legs out from under her, Miranda leapt up, Cameron charged forward with a glowing blue biotic fist, which Amanda dodged deftly, forces his hand up, and fired a shot gun blast into his chest taking his shields done.
Cameron rolled away before she could get another blast off and Miranda, being the dutiful operative, moved to cover him. That was all he needed as his shields began to creep up again, and he noticed the other operative was taking advantage of Miranda hand himself engaged with the foreign operative so Cameron charged into him phasing through the barricade and slamming into him.
The man flinched and attempted to bring his shotgun around but Cameron was too quick spraying him with Revenant fire. He dove to the left under the barrage just barely managing to save his life, Cameron moved to pursue him, but a shotgun blast nearly intersected with his face.
Cameron ignored it and rolled around the corner and fired two more bursts from his incendiary enhanced Assault Rifle, the weapons burned through the man's armor causing him to scream, and then twitch into death.
A yelp from Miranda caused him to whirl around, she was still locked in a life and death grip with Amanda, and the blond had gripped Miranda's raven hair and was twisting it. Cameron looked at the two women struggling and aimed with his Revenant, pausing, hesitating, this isn't the best weapon for this sort of thing, he moved to switch the Revenant out for the Carnifex, but he exposed himself to Corbullo which launched an Overload at him.
The electric blast took down his barriers causing him to roll away from the suddenly pouncing Turian Ghost. The concussive force from the impact with the ground caused him to grunt and stumble for a minute, but he brought the Revenant around and caught the twin Omni-blades before they could do any serious damage to him, he grunted again pushing the Turian off who used the opportunity to swing around at his head, causing Cameron to grunt.
"Garrus, a little help!" He implored.
And Garrus rushed over to help him running right past the two women who looked like they were holding their own. Not exactly what I meant, he grunted, but I guess I could use the help after all.
Corbullo separated and fired a burst at Garrus who launched an overload taking out the man's shields; the Ghost applied a stimulant pack restoring his shields to full. Garrus fired off twin blasts from the Indra knocking into him, nearly taking the shields down again.
Cameron braced himself to charge when Miranda's shriek of pain interrupted him, he froze and spun slowly around to the target, just as he saw Miranda drop to the floor, clearly unconscious.
"Garrus!"
"I got this Shepard, go on."
Cameron charged at Amanda again driving her away and preventing her from doing any more damage to Miranda.
…
Garrus stared at Corbullo who stared right back at him across the limited expanse, them without any cover.
Garrus charged in flipping out the Omni-blade and fired a burst from his Phaeston. Corbullo responded by taking to the sky and firing down at the former Turian general, who grunted as he dodged rapidly to the left. He turned around bringing the Phaeston up into his hands, and saw nothing.
He glanced around the bay and still nothing, other than Amanda and Cameron still dealing. A whistling sound cause him to spin around as Corbullo came back over the platform from the other side hovering in midair, grinning down at him. The Turian ghost took the moment to fire with bursts from the Phaeston bearing down on him, forcing the Turian operative to take cover behind where Corbullo once was.
The Turian lost his power and had to come in for a landing, this allowed Garrus to pounce on him; he flung at his body tackling him. Corbullo took the momentum and threw him to the decking causing his mandibles to spike with pain.
"Give up Garrus and surrender, this is the end."
"Not on your life," Garrus spoke as he jolted a foot out catching Corbullo in his chest.
The Turians spun around and faced each other circling the other as they both grunted. Corbullo charged again and Garus hit him with another overload blast, the Turian ghost tensed up and tripped his rocket pack sending him skyward. Garrus picked up on the disadvantage quickly and fired his Phaeston at the other soldier. It nicked his fuel tank causing another explosion as Corbullo careened into the sky, and slammed into the cliff face with a sickening thud.
He took a second to smile before turning back to the other combatants, frowning.
…
Cameron Shepard and Amanda were still grappling, their weapons forgotten long ago, he whacked her across the face with a biotic assisted back hand and she kneed him with a biotic assisted blow. Cameron grunted, in full body armor, this is kinda ridiculous, but we can deal.
He caught a blow going for his shoulder and they both glanced up when they heard the explosion and saw Corbullo fling himself into the wall.
Amanda howled and launched Cameron off of her rolling down the platform as she took off heading in the other direction.
Cameron coughed and scrambled around for the Revenant, picking it up he fired down the barrel a line of sparks following Amanda as she leapt off the edge of the structure tucking her legs up into her, and hitting the waiting Kodiak right into the cargo compartment.
Damn, Cameron whistled as she took off, son of a.
"Come on, we have to go!"
"What?!" One of the Admirals called out.
"She'll be calling in air support," He yelled back then toggled his communicator, "Cortez, we need you down here ten seconds ago!"
"On my way Commander."
He looked over and saw the silent form of Miranda, and he jogged on over to her and collapsed at her side on his hands and knees.
"Miranda," He grunted.
No response.
He reached out an arm for her, slowly, gingerly, and then touched her arm.
She twitched and turned towards him blinking, her eyes widened, "Get away from me!"
He flinched back, having no response in mind, as the shuttle began its hover. Miranda and Garrus traded a look and headed down, followed by the Admirals, Shepard sighed, and looked skyward as he heard a noise.
Two Trident fighters rocketed in their noses pointed towards the deck.
Cameron Shepard yelled as he took off towards the Kodiak, the bursts fired trying to follow him as he leapt into the Kodiak. The Kodiak powered up and took off, rapidly darting around the Tridents and using their stealth to their advantage. All with the Quarian Admirals safely aboard.
And a very disturbed Cameron.